Mail-casing and despatching device.



G. J. JOYNER.

MAIL CASING AND DESPATGHING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION EILED JAN. 1a. 1913.

1,097,329. 7 Patented Maiy 19, 1914.

[ VENTOR A ltorney GEORGE J. JOYNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MAIL-CASING AND DESPATCI-IING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1914.

Application filed January 18, 1913. Serial No. 742,796.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonon J. J OYNER, acitizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inMail-Casings and Despatching Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mailcasings and despatching devices and relates more particularly toimproved means for holding the bags distended during the time of placingmail therein, and for tying up the bags after filling thereof.

The object of the invention is to provide simple, economical andpractical means for holding the bags or cases open, which means can beeasily and quickly applied to and removed from the bags, and further toprovide casings which may be easily and quickly removed and replaced andtied up after fill- 111 In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentaryperspective view of a case showing bags equipped with the presentinvention in the pigeon-holes of the case; Fig. 2 is a detachedperspective view of one of the expanders; Fig. 3 is a similar view ofone of the bags; and Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing thebottom of the bag.

The expander is used to hold the sack or bag in open or expandedposition so as to enable the mail to be easily and conveniently placedwithin the sack or bag, and prior to the bag being closed or fastenedafter same has been filled with mail, the expander is removed, and forpurpose of convenience of storage the expander may be placed in a pigeonhole as shown in Fig. 1 at the lower right hand pigeon-hole and thefilled and closed bag or sack may also be then placed in the expandershown in said lower right hand pigeon-hole for convenience in storageuntil the closed bag is to be shipped.

The case 1 has the usual pigeon-holes 2, in which the mail bags orcasings 3 are placed. The bags 3 each have a strap i attached to theirrear ends and have a loop 5 secured to their bottoms, the loop receivingthe strap as shown. Each strap carries a label holder 6.

The expander is formed of a section of sheet metal which is bent intoU-shape to form two opposite sides 7, 7, and a bottom 8 that connectsthe sides. The front end of the bottom 8 is formed with a downwardlybent lip 9 which engages the shelves of the case and also provides afinger grip, the lip having a label or the like placed thereon toindicate different post-offices.

In operation, the expander is slid into the sack and the sack as shownin Fig. 1, is then placed in one of the pigeon-holes of the case. Mailmatter is then placed in the sacks and when the latter are ready forremoval, the clerk removes the sack by engaging the end of the strap andthe lip 9, whereupon the mouth of the sack is closed by drawing thestrap ends thereacross, and fastening said ends by the buckle 10.

From the above it will be seen that a great deal of time is saved inclosing the bags, and tying thereof is eliminated, and bundle breakingor mixing in transit is guarded against.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a mail bag, an expander therefor consisting of aU-shaped member formed of a section of sheet metal, said member beinginsertible in the bag and having the free upper edges of the sidesthereof for engagement with the top side of the bag, when the latter isin normal position in a pigeon-hole, the base of the mem ber beingprovided with a lip that extends outwardly from the open end of the bagand downwardly therefrom and adapted to receive a label or the like.

2. An expander for mail bags consisting of a U-shaped member formed of asection of sheet metal, the base of the member having an outwardlyprojecting lip to act as a finger grip to enable removal of the memberfrom a mail bag and to also enable a label to be placed thereon.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE J. JOYNER.

lVitnesses JOHN KEIM, J12, ANNA FRITZ.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

